Grant supports Bellin Foundation program

06/30/2009

GREEN BAY — The Bellin Foundation recently was awarded a $6,300 grant to support a program designed to encourage children, teens and their families to eat better, get physically active and form new healthy habits.

The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation awarded the grant in support of the KidShape/TeenShape program that will be offered to the Greater Green Bay community, including low-income families.

“With these funds, a sliding fee scale will be utilized to ensure accessibility to all in need,” said Nan Bush, director, The Bellin Foundation. KidShape/TeenShape is offered through Bellin Health Family Medical Centers.

The KidShape portion of the program is scientifically proven to help kids lose weight and keep it off. In the last 20 years, KidShape has helped more than 12,000 children and teens. Of those program participants, 87 percent have lost weight and 80 percent of those who lost weight kept if off for at least two years.

The TeenShape portion of the program empowers teens to take a lead in their own health with the support of their parents or guardians. The program is particularly sensitive to the social pressures on overweight or obese teens and to self-image issues.

“We’re particularly delighted by this grant award,” Bush said. “The funds will help us as we work to develop and deliver this program, which is truly needed as a support system for many of our area’s low-income families.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than nine million children 6 to 19 years old are overweight or obese – a number that has tripled since 1980.

About The Bellin FoundationThe Bellin Foundation helps people achieve and maintain optimal health through its philanthropic partnership with Bellin Health System and the community. The Foundation has supported Bellin initiatives and community programs with more than $20 million in private philanthropy since 1994.

About Greater Green Bay Community FoundationGrants from the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation support non-profit organizations who deliver programs and services for basic needs, education, arts and culture, the environment and more. The foundation helps donors exercise thoughtful and tactical philanthropy by doing rigorous financial and program analysis of grantees and sharing knowledge about the community’s challenges and most effective non-profits.